Tech 2.0 for Monday, January 30
Those who have stuff loaded onto to the file-sharing site Megaupload will soon lose their data. Federal prosecutors say the files loaded by Megaupload users could be deleted as early as Thursday. U.S. prosecutors have blocked access to Megaupload and charged seven men, saying the site facilitated millions of illegal downloads of movies, music and other content. The company says its millions of users stored their own data, including family photos and personal documents. No one has been able to access that data since the government raids earlier this month. An attorney for Megaupload says the company is working with the Feds to see if the data can be preserved so users can retrieve their personal data.
You could possibly lower your cable bill without canceling your service. While some of your bills are going up, there is one that you can shrink this year - your cable! According to research firm Centris, cable subscribers are now paying one percent less compared to last year. Experts say this comes as cable companies are beginning to introduce new, lower-cost plans that have a more limited selection of channels. Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Comcast have all tested packages with the scaled-back channel lineups. However, favorites such as ESPN and features like DVR and video-on-demand, will be absent from the packages.
Want to catch a symphony orchestra without having to leave the comfort of your glowing computer, smartphone or tablet screen? You can, now that the Detroit Symphony Orchestra has launched a webcast player. The player allowed users to enjoy Saturday's performance of Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 4 for starters. Other concerts are in the pipeline. The DSO says the webcast player will make online viewers feel as if they are sitting in Detroit's Orchestra Hall.
